However, Deadline is reporting that the end of Chase’s association with “Community” has arrived. Effective immediately, Chase is leaving the show by mutual agreement with the show’s producers.

What this means for Chase’s character, Pierce Hawthorne isn’t clear. Most of the fourth season of “Community” has already been filmed, including the season finale. Pierce will not appear in the remaining handful of episodes that have not yet been shot. From there, some sort of explanation about Pierce’s fate would have to be used if the series is renewed for a fifth season.

According to Deadline, Chase’s departure was not a surprise and he continued to fight the new “Community” showrunners over the direction of Pierce’s character. During a widely reported incident this fall, Chase angrily used a racial epitaph to underscore his anger at Pierce’s continuous bigotry. While Chase’s words were said to have upset the cast and crew, the statement reportedly was not directed towards his costars, Yvette Nicole Brown and Donald Glover.

“Community” will finally make its return to NBC on Thursday, February 7 at 8pm.

What are your thoughts on Chase’s flameout from “Community”? Let us know in the comment section below!